The greatest way a parent can help reduce the probability of a child being sexually assaulted on a date (you can’t 100% prevent it) is to teach your child about asking first, respecting boundaries, and letting him/her know you will ALWAYS be there if anything happens.
There is a lot of discussion out there about ‘mean girls.’ This focus is indeed warranted, as girls tend to be judged, and judge themselves based on their ability to engage in relationships. We use the term ‘relational aggression’ to describe the kind of connection forming that involves coercion or intimidation. Queen Bees are identified as the champions of this sport. Specifically, they are the girls who wield power over others. They are both respected and feared. With a simple comment or direction a queen bee can ensure that one of her disciples is either admired or shunned.
by Amy Egan
Parenting teenagers can be a slippery slope. It is something frequently talked about, voraciously written about and dreaded by most parents. But does it really have to be awful? Is it a given that we all emerge from it fried, dyed and laid to the side? Or is it possible to get through the teen years relatively unscathed? I believe that it is – with a few helpful tools!
In this article I will be discussing the tool I believe is the most important. And it has to do with our communication strategy.
